For further particulars, read “The Conquest of Mexico,” by Prescott.

[Illustration:  THE EMPEROR MONTEZUMA, SEATED IN THE ROYAL HALLS.]

A LONG JOURNEY.

BY JOSEPHINE POLLARD.

  “We sail to-day,” said the captain gay,
  As he stepped on board the boat that lay
  So high and dry, “Come now, be spry;
  We’ll land, at Jerusalem by and by!”

  Away they sailed, and each craft they hailed;
  While down in the cabin they bailed and bailed;
  For the sea was rough, and they had to luff
  And tack, till the captain cried out “Enough!”

  They stopped at Peru, this jolly crew,
  And went to Paris and Timbuctoo;
  And after a while they found the Nile,
  And watched the sports of the crocodile.

  They called on the Shah, and the mighty Czar,
  And on all the crowned heads near and far;
  Shook hands with the Cid—­they really did! 
  And lunched on top of the pyramid!

  To Afric’s strand, or northern land,
  They steer as the captain gives command;
  And fly so fast that the slender mast
  Goes quivering, shivering in the blast!

  Then on to the ground with a sudden bound,
  Leaps Jack—­’t was a mercy he wasn’t drowned! 
  The sail is furled, the anchor hurled,
  “We’ve been,” cry the children, “all round the world!”

  By billows tossed, by tempests crossed,
  Yet never a soul on board was lost! 
  Though the boat be a sieve, I do not grieve,
  They sail on the ocean of “Make-believe.”

THE LITTLE RED CANAL-BOAT.

BY M.A.  EDWARDS.

The morning sun had not mounted high enough in the sky to send his rays into Greta’s room, when she was awakened by a noise.  She listened.  It was the sound of a boat grating against the side of the canal.  Who could be coming to their back door so early?  She sprang out of bed, and ran quickly to the open window.  A disappointment awaited her.  It was only her father’s boat, which the maid-servant Charlotte was pushing along, slowly making her way to the landing-stairs.

“Where have you been so early, Charlotte?” called out Greta.

“Are you there, youngsters?” said Charlotte, looking up at the two bright faces at the window; for the little Amelia had been roused by her sister’s wild jump from the bed, and had also run to the window.

“Bad Charlotte, to wake us so early!” cried Amelia.

Charlotte laughed.  “You wouldn’t think me bad, Minchen, if you knew all the good things I’ve been buying at market.  Have you forgotten your cousins are coming to-day, all the way from over the sea?  I’m sure they’ll be hungry enough.”

“What you got?” asked Amelia (usually called Minchen).

“Fine Beemster cheese, sweet butter, fresh salad, and plenty of fruit.  And there are lots of good things at the bottom of the basket.  I’ll leave you to find out what they are.”  And Charlotte made the boat fast, and carried the heavy basket into the house.